The
new submarine was based at New London Connecticut, on 1 July 1922 as a
unit of Submarine Division 4 and followed a normal peacetime training cycle,
operating out of her home port with visits to Newport and Providence, Rhode
Island. She departed from New York on 4 January 1924 for the Canal Zone
to participate in winter fleet maneuvers off Panama and in the Caribbean.
During this cruise, she visited Trinidad, Guantanamo Bay, Culebra, and
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. After returning to New York on 30 April, she
resumed type training off Block Island and in New England coastal waters.

The S-51 sank off Block Island, 25 September
1925 with the loss of 32 lives after being rammed by SS City of Rome. She
was raised 5 June 1926, struck from the Navy List 27 January 1930 and sold
for scrapping 23 June 1930.

The diving and heroic efforts to reach and
raise the ship are well documented in the outstanding book 'On the Bottom'
by Commander Edward Ellsberg and the new book on Ellsberg by John Alden.
S-51 was raised on 5 June 1926; struck from the Navy List on 27 January
1930; and sold for scrap on 23 June 1930 to the Borough Metal Company,
Brooklyn, New York.